CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-10300H vs Intel Core i7-8750H
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-10300H is a 10th generation mobile processor designed for budget gaming laptops and mobile workstations. Part of the Comet Lake-H family, it was released in September 2020. Built on Intel's 14nm process, it features 4 cores and 8 threads, offering adequate multi-tasking capabilities for entry-level gaming. The base clock is set at 2.5 GHz, with a max turbo boost of 4.5 GHz. It operates within a 45W TDP envelope, balancing performance and thermal constraints typical of mobile devices. The processor includes 6 MB of Intel Smart Cache and supports dual-channel DDR4 memory up to 2933 MT/s. It integrates basic Intel UHD Graphics, though laptops featuring this chip almost always include a dedicated GPU. With 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes, it provides sufficient bandwidth for a mobile discrete graphics card and fast NVMe storage, making it a staple in affordable gaming laptops.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
4 cores limit heavy multi-threaded tasks.
12 threads make quick work of rendering and compiling.
Gaming
Good for 1080p gaming when paired with a GTX 1650 or RTX 3050.
Handles modern mid-range GPUs (up to RTX 2070) without bottlenecking.
Virtualization
Not ideal for running multiple VMs.
Good for running VMs on a laptop.
Efficiency
14nm on mobile is not as battery-friendly as 7nm alternatives.
45W TDP can get hot and loud in thin laptops.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware.
- Basic CPU inference only.
- No AI hardware
- 12 threads provide decent CPU inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- Sufficient for budget gaming laptops.
- May bottleneck modern CPU-heavy titles like Cyberpunk 2077.
- Excellent for eSports and older games.
- Pairs perfectly with GTX 1660 Ti to RTX 2070
- Can struggle to maintain 4.1 GHz in poorly cooled laptops
- Excellent for 1080p high-refresh gaming
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Decent single-core performance
- Sufficient for budget eSports gaming
- Supports 2933 MT/s memory
- Widely available in affordable laptops
Cons
- Only 4 cores in an 8-thread world
- 14nm process is inefficient on mobile
- Soldered to motherboard, no upgrades
- Outperformed by AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
Pros
- 6 cores / 12 threads
- Excellent gaming performance
- Good multi-threaded capability
- Widely supported in laptops
Cons
- Runs hot in thin laptops
- Soldered to motherboard
- 45W TDP limits battery life
- Older 14nm process
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-10300H
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600HRival
Mobile Mainstream
- AMD Ryzen 5 3550HRival
Mobile Budget
- Intel Core i5-9300HRival
Previous Gen Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-10400HRival
Mobile Mainstream
- AMD Ryzen 7 3750HRival
Mobile High-End
- Intel Core i5-11400HAlt
Better architecture and higher core count.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600HAlt
Much better IPC and battery life.
- Intel Core i7-10750HAlt
More cores for better multitasking.
Slightly cheaper but similar performance.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i7-8750H
- AMD Ryzen 7 2700HRival
Mobile High Performance
- AMD Ryzen 7 2800HRival
Mobile High Performance
- Intel Core i5-8300HRival
Mobile High Performance
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i9-8950HKRival
Mobile High Performance
- AMD Ryzen 5 2600HRival
Mobile High Performance
- Intel Core i7-9750HAlt
Successor with higher clocks and better optimization.
- Intel Core i7-10750HAlt
10th Gen alternative with similar core count.
- AMD Ryzen 7 4800HAlt
Vastly superior efficiency and 8 cores.
Slightly slower but runs cooler in budget laptops.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 4600HAlt
Better budget alternative with modern architecture.
Our Verdict on Each
A standard 4-core mobile CPU that gets the job done for budget gaming, but struggles to compete with AMD's multi-core mobile offerings of the same era.
Best for: Buying a heavily discounted used gaming laptop.
Read the full reviewA legendary mobile CPU that brought real desktop-class hexa-core performance to laptops, remaining viable for modern gaming.
Best for: Buying a budget used gaming laptop for 1080p gaming.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-10300H or Intel Core i7-8750H?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i7-8750H comes out ahead with a score of 9/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-10300H or Intel Core i7-8750H?
For gaming, the Intel Core i7-8750H leads with a gaming performance score of 85/100 among Intel Core i5-10300H and Intel Core i7-8750H.
Do Intel Core i5-10300H and Intel Core i7-8750H use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-10300H: BGA 1440, Intel Core i7-8750H: Intel BGA 1440), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i7-8750H has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i5-10300H (4 cores), Intel Core i7-8750H (6 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i7-8750H posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-10300H (9,000), Intel Core i7-8750H (13,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.